Filter screen in fuel distribution



June 16, 1959 B. BLOOD FILTER SCREEN IN FUEL DISTRIBUTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12. 1957 mmvron zgw/s a.

June 16, 1959 B. BLOOD FILTER SCREEN IN FUEL DISTRIBUTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1957 INVENTOR. 67715 8. 8 000 #7 Tat/V Y;

I (Granted under Title 35, US. Code 1952 sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a fuel filter screen and,.more particularly, to afuel filter screen provided with means for preventingfilter screen deformation and rupturel'due to pressure variations in the fuel pumped through the filter.

Fuel filter screens previously in use in large scale fuel receiving and distribution systems have had a short operational life due to deformations and ruptures in the screen caused by the variations in pressure under which fuel is pumped through the filters and due to fuel surging in the filter. In addition to the considerable cost of filter replacements, the time lost by interrupting the operation of the system while the fuel filter was being replaced became a serious consideration.

Therefore, a principal object of the invention is to devise a fuel filter screen having a long operational life and provided with means for resisting deformation and rupture in the filter due to variations in the pressure of the fuel pumped through the filter.

A further object of this invention is to devise a fuel filter screen provided with means for preventing the disruptive effects of fuel turbulence and fuel surging in the filter as the fuel passes through it.

Still another object of this invention is to provide fuel filter screen that is simple to construct, durable and economical to manufacture.

These and other objects will become more apparent when read in the light of the accompanying drawings and specification wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved fuel filter screen constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the pressure resisting bame plate that is designed to prevent distortion in the fuel filter screen due to the pressure of fuel passing through the screen.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and showing the side and bottom mounting flanges of the baffle plate.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2 and showing the oppositely disposed mounting flanges on the sides of the baffle plate.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and showing the way the inner and outer baskets are closely secured to each other.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. l and showing how the baffle plate is rigidly secured to the inner and outer filter screen.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the fuel filter indicated generally at 10 comprises an outer cylindrical coarse mesh basket 12 and an inner cylindrical fine mesh basket 14. The inner screen 14 is mounted by any conventional means in close fitting relationship against the inner surfaces 13 of basket 12, see Figs. 1 and 5, and is payment to me of any United States PatentO stand pressure deformation and rupture.

2,890,795 Patented June 16, 1959 supported by it. A supporting ring 16 is secured by welding or any other conventional means to the top 18 of filter, is secured to the opposite sides of the interior of the filter, see Fig. 1 This baflle plate 20 has oppositely disposed mounting flanges '22 on its. sideyedgesfsee Fig. 4, and a mounting flange 24 onits bottom edge, see Fig. 3; Baffle mounting strips 26 are positioned on the opposite sides and bottom of the outer surfaces of the filter 10; Bolt means 29 extend throughthese mounting strips and penetrate the baskets 12 and 1 4 offi l-ter 10 and are secured to the mounting flanges of baffle 20, see

Fig. 6. These baffle strips 26, in addition to providing -a means for holding bafl le plate itlrigidly-secured" to "the" interior of filter 10, also provide additional support for-the filter itself, and further help thefilter' The bafie plate 2.0 prevents deformation and rupture in the filter 10 in two ways. First, it provides an internal support for the filter to physically strengthen it so it can withstand the disruptive effects of fluctuating fluid pressures. Secondly, the baflle plate 20 is provided with vertically spaced apertures 30. These apertures 30 are small with respect to the area of the baflie plate, see Fig. 2. As seen in Fig. 1, when the baffle plate 20 is mounted in the interior of filter 10, it effectively divides the interior of the filter into two chambers. These apertures 30 provide a means for equalizing fluid flow in each chamber and because the area of these apertures is small with respect to the size of the balfle plate 20 they restrict the flow of fuel to it and have a dampening effect on fluid turbulence and surging inside the filter. This fluid turbulence and surging is thought to deform a rupture of the filter screen and magnify the destructive effects on the filter caused by variations in the pressure at which fuel is pumped through the filter. In addition, the baflle plate 20 has an integral portion 3-2 which projects beyond the edge 18 of the filter 10-. This portion has an enlarged aperture 34 which is shaped to permit portion 32 of bafiie 20 to be used as an integral handle for the filter 10.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and still remain within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fuel filter screen unit for a fuel receiving and dis tributing system, movable for installation and removal as a unit comprising an outer coarse mesh member sub stantially cylindrical in form and an inner fine mesh element placed closely adjacent to said outer mesh memher, a ring, substantially horizontal and vertical flanges on said ring, said inner screen member and said outer screen element being permanently secured to said vertical flange, means for resisting deformation and rupture of said filter screen due to turbulence in fuel flow comprising a baffle plate positioned substantially on the diameter of the screen unit and bisecting its cubical area, a normally directed integral flange on two opposite edges of said bafiie plate, said flanges extending in opposite directions from opposite surfaces of said plate, a pair of batflle mounting strips extending axially and positioned outside of said outer coarse mesh member, means for securing each of said baffle mounting strips to one of said normally directed flanges, a normally directed flange on an end of said baffle plate, a diametrically positioned baffie mounting strip for attachment to said last named flange, said baflle plate having an aperture adjacent one end providing a handle for moving said filter as a unit, said baffle plate being also provided with vertically spaced surge apertures throughout its length for equalizing fluid flow and dampening disruptive fluid turbulence.

2. A bafiie for dividing the turbulent fuel flow area of a cylindrical coarse mesh and fine mesh filter comprising a plate, a pair of integral flanges on opposite edges of said plate for attachment to reinforcing strips located axially and exteriorly of said filter, said flanges extending normally from said baffle plate and from the opposite surfaces thereof, said plate provided with surge orifices, said orifices being small in comparison to the area of said plate and in spaced vertical relation, a flange extending normally from a third edge of said baflle plate adapted for attachment to an attaching and reinforcing strip positioned exteriorly of and diametrically across the base of said cylindrical filter.

3. A fuel filter screen unit for a fuel receiving and distributing system, movable for installation and removal as a unit comprising an outer coarse mesh basket member and an inner fine mesh basket member placed closely adjacent to said outer coarse mesh basket member, means for resisting deformation and rupture of said filter screen due to turbulence in fluid flow comprising a bafile plate for substantially bisecting the cubical area of said unit, flanges extending normally from opposite surface edges of said plate, mounting strips positioned outside of said outer coarse mesh basket member for mounting the flanges of said bafiie plate, said baflle plate being provided with vertically spaced surge apertures throughout its length for equalizing fluid flow and dampening disruptive fluid turbulence.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 441,667 Jewell Dec. 2, 1890 788,231 Acker Apr. 25, 1905 1,063,047 Lohrmann May 27, 1913 1,767,642 Anschicks June 24, 1930 2,019,094 Rice et a1. Oct. 29, 1935 2,041,495 Schwiers May 19, 1936 2,081,198 Hahn May 25, 1937 2,212,318 Gee Aug. 20, 1940 2,496,757 Sieling Feb. 7, 1950 2,521,060 Hallinan Sept. 5, 1950 2,647,636 Raflerty Aug. 4, 1953 2,675,012 Scales Apr. 13, 1954 

